Tesla’s Robotaxi Rides Are Finally Live in Austin—But With a Catch

After years of hype, Tesla’s driverless Model Y robotaxis are giving paid rides in Austin at $4.20 a trip. But it’s not fully hands-off yet — a Tesla employee still rides up front as a “safety monitor.” The rollout’s small, info is limited, and glitches were spotted. Still, Musk calls it the start of Tesla’s self-driving future.

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Tesla Optimus VP Milan Kovac Steps Down

After nearly a decade at Tesla, Milan Kovac, the VP of Optimus robotics, announced his departure. In a heartfelt X post, he thanked Elon Musk for shaping his engineering mindset. Kovac played a key role in building Tesla’s humanoid robot project, Optimus—expected to enter factory use by 2025. Musk believes it could drive Tesla’s market cap to $25 trillion.

Read more on: CNBC

India Issues EV Policy Guidelines to Attract Global Carmakers

India has issued detailed guidelines under its EV manufacturing scheme, requiring a minimum ₹4,150 crore investment and 25% local value addition within three years. Global EV makers can import high-end models at reduced duties for five years. The move, eyed by Tesla and others, aims to boost domestic manufacturing and sustainable mobility in India.

Read more on: YourStory

Tesla to Begin First Robotaxi Test in Austin with Strict Safety Measures and Geofencing

Tesla is gearing up for the first real-world test of its robotaxi service next month in Austin, Texas. But instead of unleashing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) vehicles across the city, the company is starting with extreme caution—limiting the test to carefully selected “safe” zones.

Source: TechCrunch, CNBC

Ather Energy Trims IPO Size Amid Market Conditions

Ather Energy, India’s electric two-wheeler startup, has cut its IPO size by 18% to ₹26.26 billion ($308M) citing market conditions. Targeting a $1.4B valuation, Ather plans to invest proceeds in a new Maharashtra plant, R&D, marketing, and debt repayment. The company saw strong 2024 sales growth and aims to strengthen its position against rivals like Ola Electric.

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Musk’s Risky Move: Choosing Robotaxis Over Affordable EVs

Elon Musk ignored warnings from Tesla’s analysts and chose to focus on the Cybercab instead of the $25,000 Model 2. The team thought the Model 2 would sell well globally, but Musk went with the robotaxi. With Tesla facing tough competition and falling stock prices, this decision might hurt the company big time.

Read more on Yahoo

BluSmart Halts Services as Probe Hits Co-Founders’ Firm

BluSmart, India’s electric cab startup, has paused operations in cities like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai amid a SEBI probe into Gensol Engineering, linked to co-founders Anmol and Puneet Jaggi. The brothers stepped down after allegations of fund misuse. Investors are stunned, and while a Uber pivot is rumored, Gensol denies it.

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EV Charging Startup IPEC Raises $3M to Boost Growth and Global Expansion

Bengaluru-based IPEC secured $3 million from Gruhas to scale its EV charging solutions and manufacturing. Founded in 2017, IPEC supplies top EV brands like Ather and Bajaj, delivering over a million chargers. The company aims to double revenue in FY26, expand globally, and drive “Make In India” power electronics innovation for the EV sector.

Read more on Entrepreneur

Tesla Recalls 46,000 Cybertrucks Over Risky Loose Trim Panel!

Tesla is recalling 46,000 Cybertrucks due to a steel trim panel near the windshield that can detach while driving, posing a safety risk. The issue stems from faulty adhesive, and Tesla will fix it for free. This marks the Cybertruck’s eighth recall, highlighting ongoing quality concerns despite its strong sales in the EV truck market.

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Tesla Signs First Lease in India for Mumbai Showroom

Tesla’s finally rolling into India! They’ve signed a five-year lease for a showroom in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, starting February 2025. The 4,003-square-foot space costs $446,000 in rent for the first year. After delays from regulations and infrastructure woes, Tesla’s back to spark India’s EV scene in one of the world’s hottest car markets.

Read more on TOI

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